Financial planning
A plan first. Every decision after it.
Most people come in with one question: whether to sell, convert, borrow or retire. The answer depends on everything else you own, owe and want. So the work starts with a comprehensive financial plan built around your goals, and every recommendation after that is measured against it, including how tax-efficient it is.
What the plan covers
One plan for the whole picture, not a stack of separate accounts.
Each area is planned with the others in view. A decision in one place, like a business sale or a Roth conversion, changes the numbers everywhere else.
Cash flow and balance sheet
What comes in, what goes out, what you own and what you owe, organized into one current picture.
Investments and asset location
An investment policy built around your goals and risk, with each asset held in the account type that makes sense for it.
Tax-efficient planning
A multi-year view of income, gains, deductions and timing, coordinated directly with your CPA so tax efficiency is planned before year-end, not after.
Retirement and income
When you can step back, what you can spend, and which accounts to draw from first so income lasts and taxes stay manageable.
Business ownership and exit
Planning around the business you built: owner compensation, retirement plans, succession and preparing well before a sale.
Equity compensation and concentrated stock
A schedule for options, RSUs and single-stock positions that balances risk, liquidity and the tax cost of diversifying.
Estate, trust and legacy
A clear map of how assets pass to the next generation, with titling and beneficiaries checked against what your documents intend.
Charitable giving
Giving that reflects your values and is timed and structured well, from donor-advised funds to gifting appreciated assets.
Liquidity and lending
Cash reserves, credit lines and when borrowing against a portfolio may make more sense than selling, with the risks laid out.
Risk and insurance review
A review of existing coverage for gaps and overlap, so a single event does not undo the rest of the plan.
The process
What to expect, step by step.
Two meetings to decide, then a structured transition and an in-depth plan. You work directly with me at every step, with no hand-off to a service team.
See if we are a good fit, then learn your situation.
We start by making sure working together makes sense for both of us, and I explain how I work. Then most of the meeting is you talking and me asking questions: your goals, your family, your business, the decisions in front of you and what is weighing on you most.
By the end, you should hear your situation reflected back clearly, along with one or two things I would want to look at more closely. Nothing is sold in this meeting. If you can, bring your recent statements and documents so we can cover your full picture in one sitting. Within a day, you get a short recap of what we discussed and a list of anything else I need.
If you can: recent account statements, your latest tax return, and any equity compensation, business, estate or insurance documents. If you do not have everything, we start with what you have.
A clear read on whether we are a fit, a written recap and a list of anything still needed.
See how I would approach your situation.
I come back with a preliminary plan built from your documents: what I see in your current picture, your goals in order of priority, the opportunities and risks I would focus on first, and the specific steps I would take in the first 90 days. You see the trade-offs of each, not just the upside.
If you decide to move forward, we sign the advisory agreement at this meeting so nothing stalls. You receive Form CRS and Form ADV Part 2A before you sign. If you want time to think, we set a specific time to reconnect before you leave.
Any remaining documents from the recap list.
A preliminary plan and a clear picture of what working together looks like from day one.
Move your accounts with as little friction as possible.
I handle the paperwork to open your accounts and transfer assets from your current firm, moving positions in kind where it makes sense so you are not selling just to move. You get a transition timeline up front and regular updates until every account has landed, and I coordinate with your CPA where timing or cost basis matters.
A few signatures. I prepare the paperwork and track every transfer.
A transition timeline, regular status updates and one point of contact the whole way through.
Build the in-depth plan.
With your accounts in place, I build your comprehensive financial plan. It covers cash flow, investments, retirement income, a multi-year tax view shared with your CPA, your business, estate and giving, and it tests the big decisions against different scenarios.
We walk through it together, and it becomes the working document for how we approach your entire financial picture. Every recommendation after it is measured against it.
Feedback. The plan reflects your priorities, so we refine it together.
A written financial plan, an investment policy statement, an estate map and a prioritized action list.
Put it to work and keep it current.
I carry out the plan in a defined sequence and coordinate directly with your CPA and attorney on the items that belong to them, so you are not stuck in the middle. Around the 90-day mark we check in to make sure everything is working the way you expected.
From there we meet for a full review at least once a year, check in around the dates that matter, and update the plan whenever life changes: a sale, a move, a new child, a new job or a change in tax law.
Updates when something in your life or business changes.
Proactive check-ins, an annual review and a plan that stays current.
Timelines are typical, not guaranteed, and depend on your situation and how quickly other firms process transfers. A financial plan is not a guarantee of any result and contains no promise of returns or tax savings. Viva Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice; tax and legal matters are coordinated with your CPA and attorney.
What you receive
Clear documents you can actually use.
Everything is written in plain English and kept up to date as your situation changes.
- Written financial plan covering goals, cash flow, investments, retirement, estate and giving.
- Balance sheet and cash flow summary in one place, refreshed at each review.
- Investment policy statement that sets out how your money is invested and why.
- Multi-year tax planning view shared with your CPA.
- Estate and beneficiary map showing how assets are titled and where they pass.
- Prioritized action list with owners and deadlines.
- Annual planning calendar built around your tax year, trading windows and family dates.
The planning year
Planning runs on a calendar, not just when markets move.
Set the year
Review last year, confirm goals, and gather tax documents for your CPA.
Fund and adjust
Contributions, estimated payments and any changes that came out of tax season.
Mid-year check
A tax projection with your CPA and a look at gains, losses and Roth timing.
Year-end moves
Harvesting, charitable gifts, conversions and distributions before the deadline.
Questions
Common questions
What does the process look like?
It starts with an introductory meeting to confirm fit and do a full discovery of your situation, ideally with your recent statements and documents in hand. In a second meeting, typically within one to two weeks, you see a preliminary plan and approach, and if you move forward the advisory agreement is signed. Then your accounts are transitioned, and an in-depth financial plan becomes the working document for your entire financial picture.
How long does it take to get a financial plan?
The preliminary plan is presented at the second meeting. The in-depth plan is typically delivered within 30 to 45 days after onboarding, depending on complexity.
Can I keep my own CPA and attorney?
Yes. Your CPA and attorney stay in place, and I coordinate directly with them so you are not stuck in the middle. If you need a CPA, I can introduce you to accountants in the Current network.
Will I work with a team or with you directly?
You work directly with me at every step. There is no hand-off to a client service team.
What does tax-efficient financial planning mean?
It means every part of the plan, from where assets are held to when gains are taken and how retirement income is drawn, is designed with its tax consequences in view so you keep more of what you earn and build. Viva Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice; tax matters are coordinated with your CPA.
Who is the financial planning process designed for?
Business owners, executives, families and retirees whose financial decisions carry tax consequences large enough to plan around, including people preparing to sell a business, manage concentrated stock, convert to Roth or pass wealth to the next generation.
Every plan starts with a conversation.
Bring what you have. No obligation.
Schedule an introductory call